Eddie Howe is quitting as Newcastle United manager after nearly five successful and transformative years at St James' Park. The 48-year-old English manager who took over from Steve Bruce in November 2021 with the club in 19th place and in a relegation battle has left his position and will not become a manager any further. Howe turned the Tyneside club from the drop zone to a competitive force in English and European football during three years in charge.
He managed Newcastle to win the League Cup final in March 2025 in Tyneside, and they were the first club to win the domestic title since 1969, ending the decades-long trophy drought that the club had been suffering from. In addition to that big silverware, Howe ran two Champions League qualification campaigns in 2023 and 2025 in which the fans had a taste for European nights at St James' Park, and the team had the best atmosphere in the world. He managed the team well, was on his game, he was organized, and he was very well-grounded and knew what he was doing.
But the journey was also difficult. Howe had already been under pressure earlier in the season when Newcastle fell to a disappointing 12th place in the Premier League and suffered 17 defeats in 38 games and a heavy Champions League exit to Barcelona. The summer transfer window brought even more turbulence with a huge number of players leaving the club. Sandro Tonali left for Tottenham and England forward Anthony Gordon for Barcelona, and there was speculation on the future of club captain Bruno Guimaraes.
Howe’s final match in the dugout was a poor 4-1 defeat to Championship side Bristol City in a pre-season friendly. He had been told that the hierarchy was in full confidence he would make it through another summer of transition, and if he didn’t, he was left out. He leaves behind an indelible legacy in Newcastle, having changed the course of the club in a good way and transformed a relegation-bound side into cup winners and European contenders.
